Rocco Announces Title Adjustments on Football Coaching Staff

Coach Rocco announced the promotion of four assistant coaches and that his staff will remain intact for the 2007 season.

Liberty University Head Football Coach Danny Rocco has announced the promotion of four members of his coaching staff, rewarding their efforts in helping Liberty during its successful 2006 campaign.

"Not only were we able to sign a strong recruiting class this year, but we were able to retain our entire coaching staff," stated Rocco. "In the business of college athletics, it is important to maintain a high level of continuity. As we head into our second year at the university, I think the relationships our staff have built are getting stronger, which can only help us as we plan for the future of this program."

The Flames are coming off a banner season which saw the football program post the best win-loss improvement in the nation, finishing the year with a 6-5 record. Rocco was honored as Big South Coach of the Year, while 14 players were named to the all-conference team, marking the most all-conference selections of any program in the league.

Liberty also had five players named to the VaSID all-state team, tying for the highest number of all-state selections in a season for Liberty in the program's 34-year history.

"Our strength here at Liberty is in our unity. As we finish our first year and head into our second at Liberty, I am very excited to say our entire staff is intact," continued Rocco. "We have a unified goal of going out next year and putting the best product on the field as we compete for a championship."

Rocco's first promotion was given to the senior member of the coaching staff, as Pete Sundheim was elevated from Assistant Head Coach to Associate Head Coach. Sundheim, who will continue to oversee the program's tight ends next year, completed his 18th year as a member of the Flames' football coaching staff this past fall.

Scott Wachenheim will be taking Sundheim's place as Assistant Head Coach, as he was promoted from his position as Offensive Coordinator. Wachenheim, who joined Rocco's staff last January after spending 12 years at Rice, will continue to oversee Liberty's offensive schemes as Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach.

Rocco's final promotion on the offensive side of the ball was given to Brandon Streeter, who also just completed his first year with Liberty after a highly successful playing career at Clemson. Streeter was promoted from his position as Quarterbacks Coach to Passing Game Coordinator.

"I made a statement to the team not too long ago that we are going to open up our offense more next year," added Rocco. "I think these changes reflect our efforts to accomplish this goal as we look to expand our offensive efforts next season."

Finally, Rocco's last staffing title adjustment was given to Robert Wimberly, who has been Liberty's Linebackers Coach for the last three years. Wimberly will continue in this role as far as his on-field coaching duties go and he will take on added responsibility as the program's Director of High School Relations.

In this new role, Wimberly will oversee the communication between the football program and high school programs inside the region and state. He will also oversee the Flames' summer high school camps/clinics and the program's communication with high school head coaches throughout the regional, state and national levels.

Transactions: Pete Sundheim – Promoted to Associate Head Coach/Tight End Coach Scott Wachenheim – Promoted to Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Robert Wimberly – Promoted to Director of High School Relations/Linebackers Coach Brandon Streeter – Promoted to Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach